Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1887-11-15

Wv
Apo1PH FISCHER
LOUIS LINGG's LETTER
To Mr.. r. j. Oglesby, Governor Of Illinois:
:, Anent the TACT that the progressive ard liberty
loving portion of the American people are en-.
dcavoring 10 prevail upon you to interpose your
pr al in my case feel imPelled to dc
demand eithtr liberty death If YOU ere
really servant Of the people according to the
virtue of your Office, Internationally release me
referring to the general and inalienabe rights
of men, have called upon the disinhcrited and
oppressed masses to oppose the force of their op-
p.cs2oTs -c.--rCGcd by armed enforcement of in.
famous laws: enacted in the interest of capital
with force, in order to attain a dignifed and
manly existence by securing the full r., turns OF
their labor This-and only this-is the crime
which was proven against Inc, notwt hstaniins
the employment of p.riured testimony on tn,,
part Of tine state. And this or me is guaranteed
not only as right. but q duty, by the Ameli.
can constitution, the repr, ntativc Of which Won
are supposed to be i'll tie state OF Illinois
But If you sre not the representative of the
holders. mere tool of tic r.Enopolists or n
specific political clique, you will no encroaci
upon the thirst for blood displayed by tic ex.
tottionerS, because mere matt gation Of the YER
olct would be cowaldice and Eroot that the
Iuhn% ciassts wh.h you represent are thenl-
selves ahG&GCd ct tne II r'StGrtSity OF my cen
Cenlnat!on, and, consequently, Cf ih1ir oWl VIC
i,1ton OF tn most s-er"d rights # the people,
C1N but also yourself an taoso wnu.r rpu Tr,l',.
seat. Julst, ti4en. LOUIS LI%CG
+ Stu or. or to be sure lbct Ia
CONF u your oIlsiIl notice ! viii Scua you ,hn
original manuscript as resl stored Letter
GEORGE EEGEL's LETTER.
Deer Sir-I, George EnSll, citizen CT Tho Unite!
States and OF lIcago and eon"eEln.d to ,lr.'.
learn that thousands of citi1ens petition To-.
the highest executive officer uf the stat. OF
nois, to commute my sentence OF death to il.
prisonmcnt. protest enphGtically a;ainst this
on the following grounds:
am not aware Of having violated any laws OF
this country. In my firm belief in the consti;u.
p,hi ,,;,,
altered, have exercised the right OF free SPEECH.
free press free thought and free assemblage, as
guaranteed by the constitution, and have crit.
ciscd the existing condition OF society and sue.
cored my fellow citizens with my advice, which
regard rs the right Of every honest cit zen The
experience when have had in this country, dur
Ing the fifteen years that have lived here con.
corning tho ballet and tho administration II our
public functionaricS VINO have become totally cor.
rupt, have eradicated my belief in the ex stence Of
equal rights of p or and rich, and the action oftAs
public officers, police and militia have produced
the firm belief IN me that these cond ions cannot
last long In accordance with this experience I
good faita of tlic rights which are guaranteed by
the constitution and, not being conscious " NY
guilt, the powers that be may murder me. but
theT cannot legally punish Inc. protc. G-aii.St
a communication of my sentence, and demand
either liberty or death. renounce any Lind Of
mercy. Respectfully, GgoaG-: Excl
SPIES DEFEHsE
The defense Of August Spies may be found
in many sentences Of his letters to hiss Van
A|"4''i' '--ANA LII hiiI IL E.u
his notable address to tho court before SCH
tencc was pronounced. In the latter Ec sad,
among other things:
Your honor, speak cs the representative Of
one class to the representative of another. viii
bcgn VITA the "oross uttered by the Venetian
dose Faeri TO the council CT ten: My CCfeLsc is
your accusation; the causes Of my alleged crime
your history" little Liter he says: "1hc con-
tempiate'i murder Of eight men, hose Dry
cTima ia thnt they have dared to speak the TRUTH
may opca tee eyes Of he surcrin,; millions, may
wake them UP. irdccd, have noticed th;t cur
conviction his worried miracles In this direction
nEeaty.'